CINCINNATI – Even the return of Danny Amendola could not save the New England Patriots offense from a lackluster performance during Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

All the awkwardness and growing pains that have sprouted up during recent weeks were once again on hand, thanks in part to a swarming effort by the Bengals defensive line, but even if Sunday’s output failed to pass inspection, getting Amendola back was a big step toward ironing things out.

The slot receiver played nearly 40 snaps Sunday and finished with four catches and 55 receiving yards. After the game, Amendola, who has been battling a groin injury, said that he was not feeling any pain.

“Feel good, fell good right,” Amendola said. “I don’t think (the layoff hurt). I thought I could play better.”

After becoming injured during a Week 1 win over the Buffalo Bills, Amendola has been on the field for practice every day in the weeks since, which led to rampant speculation about a possible return date. But even though he had a good idea that this would be the week, Amendola said that he didn’t know for sure that he would be playing until a couple hours prior to kickoff.

Prior to the game, Amendola tested his groin and it wasn’t until after he got through warm-ups that he was cleared for action.

"Practice is practice during the week, then you get into the game, adrenaline's flowing, it's a lot faster," he noted. "I had to make sure I was ready, but I felt pretty good."

Amendola came inches away from scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter when he was stopped at the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter. Despite his best efforts, he could not find his way into the end zone for the score.

“I knew I was close, I thought I was going to roll in there,” Amendola said. “Sometimes that’s the way it goes, man.”